Fear-avoidance beliefs increase perception of pain and disability in Mexicans with chronic low back pain

Background: Fear-avoidance beliefs are related to the prognosis of chronicity in low back pain in subacute stages, however in chronic pain, is no clear the influence of these factors; it has been suggested that the study population can determine the magnitude of influence on disability and pain of those suffering from back pain. Currently, information does not exist in the Mexican population.

Objective: To analyze the relationship between fear-avoidance beliefs with pain and disability in Mexicans with chronic low back pain; analyze potentials differences between subgroups according to the time of evolution.

Methods: Cross-sectional study in Mexicans with chronic LBP aged between 18 and 45. Data were collected on general socio demographic characteristics, time of evolution, body mass index, pain, disability and fear-avoidance beliefs.

Results: 33 men and 47 women, with an average age of 34.19±7.65 years. Higher scores of fear-avoidance beliefs were obtained in women (47.2±20.99 versus 38.5±9.7; p=0.05) and single participants (p=0.04). A positive correlation was found between disability (r=0.603, p<0.001) and pain (r=0.234, p=0.03) with high scores of fear-avoidance beliefs. Through generalized linear models for disability, total score of the fear avoidance beliefs questionnaire showed a standardized beta coefficient of 0.603, p<0.001 (R² of 0.656); for pain showed a standardized beta coefficient of 0.29, p=0.01 (R² of 0.721).

Conclusion: The present study suggests that there is a strong relationship between pain severity, FABQ scores, and functional disability in Mexicans with chronic LBP.